Low % of HY owls:
 In previous big flight years, a large % of the owls captured were HY birds (indicating a very successful breeding season), but this year adult birds dominated.  Why?
•Unseasonably early cold snap in the upper mid-west and eastern Canada may have affected breeding cycle and/or migration.
•It is known that rodent populations were down at least in some parts of eastern Canada, and lack of food may have resulted in poor breeding season, and
•Continuing low rodent populations, may have caused adult birds that would normally stay farther north to migrate south.
•It is unknown whether or not disease played a role in low HY numbers.
Odd Molt Patterns:
•For example, the owls normally molt all of their tail feathers at once, but this year some of the owls had retained one or more tail feathers.  This suggests that the molt was delayed or suspended, which can happen when birds suffer physiological stress.